insideKENT Magazine Issue 23 - February 2014 | Page 133

You see, when you drive a MINI, it's not just about a purpose. It is also about an experience. They have that extra special characteristic that every real driver craves and searches for. They are meant to be driven for pleasure. If you want to merely get from A to B, get a Japanese car. The reason I think I am so enamoured with MINI is because their entire marketing strategy and philosophy seems to be based on the saying: “It's not the destination that counts, it's the journey.” – and one I happily subscribe to. But not everyone it seems, shares my wild optimism and joy. Whenever I post a photo or a remark about how excited I am to be reviewing a MINI on Facebook, I am met with the same old-school, nostalgia-ridden cynicism. I secretly suspect that these very same people are often to be found Tweeting on their Nokia phones that Tom Baker was brilliant as Doctor Who, and that Matt Smith was rubbish. And that the idea of renaming Opal Fruits to ‘Starburst’ was a bad one. Okay, on reflection they are right about that last example. Anyway, back to the MINI Paceman! With this seventh regeneration of the MINI body, I got a brand new line of attack from the ‘Classic’ fans; apparently, it's too big to be a MINI. Gone are the days of the tiny car for all people – this is a ‘giant’ four by four! How could it possibly wear the MINI badge? ‘Surely MINI have got this one wrong!’ they cry. Adolf in the face, and do some good against the nasty wicked forces of Hydra. Well my friends, you're plain wrong. And since I'm a Marvel geek, as well as a MINI geek, I shall attempt to marry the two and explain why, using none other than the mighty Captain America to do so... And that is precisely how I see the MINI Paceman (except without the stars and stripes. Replace with the Union Jack, perhaps on the roof – I've seen a few MINIs with that). Captain America, one of the most inspirational, clean-cut, decent and uncluttered of all the Marvel heroes, started life as Steve Rogers. Steve Rogers was a wonderful little chap, who in every way epitomised the heroism, character and downright decency of the average American Joe (or ‘soldier’ to us British Johnnies...). Apart from one teeny tiny detail: he was, not to put too finer point on it, a total wimp! Unfortunately Rogers failed every attempt to get enlisted and go and fight overseas, because his health and stature, were to say the least, somewhat pathetic. That is until a kindly scientist, seeing the good within his fragile, condition-ridden exterior, managed to recruit him for the top secret Super Soldier project. Pumped full of chemicals and blasted with radiation and stuff by Iron Man's dad, he became the red, white and blue musclebound legend that is Captain America. Same heart, same good guy, just a bigger, stronger body. Which meant he could finally live up to the hopes and dreams of the man inside, punch 133 In my thoroughly enjoyable experience, this car proves to have the very same spirit of fun and adventure that the original Mini and the modern MINI have shown us – just more size, power and strength. The Paceman takes the concepts introduced to us a while ago by the most excellent MINI Countryman, and runs wilder and faster with them. Donning a lower sleeker look than the Countryman, with the roof tapered and the wheel arches sculpted, giving an instantly more speedy inference, the Paceman exudes that classic MINI trait of looking fast before you've even driven it, and is indeed a very attractive car to behold from all angles. Inside the Paceman, you are instantly aware of a high-quality, familiar yet updated cockpit sporting all the la